नार्यो नात्यचरन् भर्तॄन् भार्यां नात्यचरत् पतिः सर्वम् आसीज् जगद् दान्तं निर्दस्युर् अभवन् मही
Wives did not transgress their husbands, nor did husbands transgress their wives; the whole world was disciplined, and there were no criminals on earth.
राम एको ऽभवद् भर्ता रामः पालयिताभवत् आसन् वर्षसहस्राणि तथा पुत्रसहस्रिणः
Rāma alone was the lord, Rāma was the protector; for thousands of years, so it was, with thousands of sons.
अरोगाः प्राणिनश् चासन् रामे राज्यं प्रशासति देवतानाम् ऋषीणां च मनुष्याणां च सर्वशः
While Rāma ruled the kingdom, all living beings were free from illness, among the gods, sages, and humans alike.
पृथिव्यां समवायो ऽभूद् रामे राज्यं प्रशासति गाथाम् अप्य् अत्र गायन्ति ये पुराणविदो जनाः
While Rāma governed the kingdom, there was harmony upon the earth; and those learned in the Purāṇas recite a verse about this.
रामे निबद्धतत्त्वार्था माहात्म्यं तस्य धीमतः श्यामो युवा लोहिताक्षो दीप्तास्यो मितभाषितः
The greatness of that wise Rāma, whose nature and truth are well established, is described as: dark-complexioned, youthful, red-eyed, radiant-faced, and measured in speech.
आजानुबाहुः सुमुखः सिंहस्कन्धो महाभुजः दश वर्षसहस्राणि रामो राज्यम् अकारयत्
Long-armed, handsome-faced, lion-shouldered, mighty-armed—Rāma ruled the kingdom for ten thousand years.
ऋक्सामयजुषां घोषो ज्याघोषश् च महात्मनः अव्युच्छिन्नो ऽभवद् राष्ट्रे दीयतां भुज्यताम् इति
The sound of the Ṛk, Sāma, and Yajus hymns, and the twang of the great soul's bow, resounded unbroken in the land: 'Let it be given, let it be enjoyed.'
सत्त्ववान् गुणसंपन्नो दीप्यमानः स्वतेजसा अति चन्द्रं च सूर्यं च रामो दाशरथिर् बभौ
Endowed with virtue and qualities, shining with his own splendor, Rāma, son of Daśaratha, surpassed even the moon and the sun in brilliance.
ईजे क्रतुशतैः पुण्यैः समाप्तवरदक्षिणैः हित्वायोध्यां दिवं यातो राघवो हि महाबलः
He performed hundreds of meritorious sacrifices, all with abundant gifts; then, leaving Ayodhyā, the mighty Rāghava ascended to heaven.
एवम् एव महाबाहुर् इक्ष्वाकुकुलनन्दनः रावणं सगणं हत्वा दिवम् आचक्रमे विभुः
In the same way, the mighty-armed, illustrious scion of Ikṣvāku, after slaying Rāvaṇa and his hosts, ascended to heaven.
अपरः केशवस्यायं प्रादुर्भावो महात्मनः विख्यातो माथुरे कल्पे सर्वलोकहिताय वै
Another manifestation of the great soul Keśava is renowned in the Māthura era, truly for the welfare of all worlds.
यत्र शाल्वं च चैद्यं च कंसं द्विविदम् एव च अरिष्टं वृषभं केशिं पूतनां दैत्यदारिकाम्
There he slew Śālva, the Caidya, Kaṃsa, Dvivida, Ariṣṭa, Vṛṣabha, Keśin, Pūtanā the demoness—
नागं कुवलयापीडं चाणूरं मुष्टिकं तथा दैत्यान् मानुषदेहेन सूदयाम् आस वीर्यवान्
The heroic one destroyed, in human form, the demon Kuvalayāpīḍa the elephant, Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, and other demons.
छिन्नं बाहुसहस्रं च बाणस्याद्भुतकर्मणः नरकश् च हतः संख्ये यवनश् च महाबलः
The thousand arms of Bāṇa, performer of wondrous deeds, were severed; Naraka was slain in battle, as was the mighty Yavana.
हृतानि च महीपानां सर्वरत्नानि तेजसा दुराचाराश् च निहिताः पार्थिवा ये महीतले
By his splendor, all the jewels of the earth's kings were taken; and those unrighteous rulers upon the earth were subdued.
एष लोकहितार्थाय प्रादुर्भावो महात्मनः कल्की विष्णुयशा नाम शम्भलग्रामसंभवः
For the sake of the world's welfare, the great soul will manifest as Kalki, famed as Viṣṇuyaśas, born in the village of Śambhala.
सर्वलोकहितार्थाय भूयो देवो महायशाः एते चान्ये च बहवो दिव्या देवगणैर् वृताः
Again, for the welfare of all worlds, the illustrious god will appear; and many other divine manifestations, accompanied by hosts of gods.
प्रादुर्भावाः पुराणेषु गीयन्ते ब्रह्मवादिभिः यत्र देवा विमुह्यन्ति प्रादुर्भावानुकीर्तने
These manifestations are sung in the Purāṇas by those who know Brahman, where even the gods are bewildered in recounting the incarnations.
पुराणं वर्तते यत्र वेदश्रुतिसमाहितम् एतद् उद्देशमात्रेण प्रादुर्भावानुकीर्तनम्
Where the Purāṇa is present, imbued with the essence of Vedic revelation, even the mere mention of these manifestations is recited.
कीर्तितं कीर्तनीयस्य सर्वलोकगुरोर् विभोः प्रीयन्ते पितरस् तस्य प्रादुर्भावानुकीर्तनात्
The recounting of the manifestations of the all-pervading, venerable teacher of all worlds is praised; by this, the ancestors are pleased.
विष्णोर् अमितवीर्यस्य यः शृणोति कृताञ्जलिः
He who listens, with hands joined in reverence, to the account of Vishnu's boundless might—
एताश् च योगेश्वरयोगमायाः श्रुत्वा नरो मुच्यति सर्वपापैः ऋद्धिं समृद्धिं विपुलांश् च भोगान् प्राप्नोति शीघ्रं भगवत्प्रसादात्
And who hears these manifestations of the Lord of Yoga and his wondrous powers, is freed from all sins; he swiftly attains prosperity, abundance, and great enjoyments by the grace of the Blessed One.
एवं मया मुनिश्रेष्ठा विष्णोर् अमिततेजसः सर्वपापहराः पुण्याः प्रादुर्भावाः प्रकीर्तिताः
Thus, O foremost of sages, I have described the auspicious manifestations of Vishnu, whose brilliance is immeasurable and which remove all sins.
न तृप्तिम् अधिगच्छामः पुण्यधर्मामृतस्य च मुने त्वन्मुखगीतस्य तथा कौतूहलं हि नः
O sage, we do not attain satisfaction from the nectar of virtuous dharma, nor from the songs spoken by your mouth; indeed, our curiosity remains.
उत्पत्तिं प्रलयं चैव भूतानां कर्मणो गतिम् वेत्सि सर्वं मुने तेन पृच्छामस् त्वां महामतिम्
You know, O sage, the origin and dissolution of beings, the course of their actions; therefore, O wise one, we ask you everything.
श्रूयते यमलोकस्य मार्गः परमदुर्गमः दुःखक्लेशकरः शश्वत् सर्वभूतभयावहः
It is heard that the path to the realm of Yama is extremely difficult, causing suffering and pain, eternally bringing fear to all creatures.
कथं तेन नरा यान्ति मार्गेण यमसादनम् प्रमाणं चैव मार्गस्य ब्रूहि नो वदतां वर
How do men travel by that path to the abode of Yama? Tell us, O best of speakers, the measure and nature of that path.
मुने पृच्छाम सर्वज्ञ ब्रूहि सर्वम् अशेषतः कथं नरकदुःखानि नाप्नुवन्ति नरान् मुने
O sage, we ask you, all-knowing one, tell us everything in full: how do men avoid the sufferings of hell?
केनोपायेन दानेन धर्मेण नियमेन च मानुषस्य च याम्यस्य लोकस्य कियद् अन्तरम्
By what means, by what gift, by what dharma or discipline, and what is the distance between the human world and the realm of Yama?
कथं च स्वर्गतिं यान्ति नरकं केन कर्मणा स्वर्गस्थानानि कियन्ति कियन्ति नरकाणि च
How do men attain heaven, and by what action do they go to hell? How many places are there in heaven, and how many hells?